Edge effects on gall-inducing insect Mikiola fagi (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in the oriental beach forests

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of forest edges on the leaf galls induced by Mikiola fagi (Hartig) on oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky). Two main objectives of this study were a) to compare the effects of forest edges on the number of leaf galls, and b) to compare the forest edges and forest interiors concerning the length and weight of the galls. Investigations on this subject were conducted in 2013-2014 in the Forest Enterprise Chief of Tezcan in Kastamonu located in Western Blacksea region of Turkey. The results showed that 1) the number of leaf galls was greater along the forest edges than in the forest interiors, 2) the length and the weight of the galls did not differ significantly between forest edges and forest interiors.